NEL train delay after student’s leg gets stuck in gap between train and platform

SINGAPORE — A student slipped, trapping her leg in a 10cm gap between the train and platform at Hougang MRT station this morning (March 11), delaying services along the North East Line.

The incident took place just before 8am, said a spokesperson for SBS Transit, Ms Tammy Tan. "Staff and fellow commuters quickly attended to her and managed to get her out several minutes later." 

"She was subsequently conveyed to hospital for treatment. As a result of this incident, the train was held back at the station causing service to be delayed on the Line. Public address announcements were made to inform commuters about the delay," said Ms Tan.

The gap is part of the station design, and is meant to accommodate the movement of the train when it approaches the station, said SBS Transit. Without it, the train body may come into contact with the station’s platform gap. To ensure passenger safety, signs are displayed on train and platform doors and announcements are played to remind commuters to mind the gap.

A photo sent to Channel NewsAsia by someone identified as “Long”, showed the teenage girl, in a beige uniform, lying on the platform of the train station, while officers tended to her.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they received a call for assistance at 7.50am and despatched a fire engine and ambulance. Prior to their arrival, the SCDF said that the girl’s leg had been released. The girl has been conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Normal train service along the North East Line has resumed.

For commuter Coco Zheng, 33, the delay in train service resulted in her being late for work this morning, despite plans to arrive early. “I stepped into the train but it didn’t move for about five minutes. Then I heard an announcement asking everybody to come out of the train. I waited at the platform for another 10 minutes before I could board again,” said Ms Zheng, who arrived at Hougang MRT station at about 7:40am.

On social media, affected commuters vented their anger over the delay and large crowds at the North East Line this morning.